Article 1 - Name and identity

1. The name of the party is ResidentiBeltin.
2. Its acronym is RB.
3. The party may adopt an emblem, logo and slogans in accordance with this statute and any applicable legal requirements.

Article 2 - Roots and purpose

1. ResidentiBeltin developed from a community initiative and was formally established to represent residents.
2. Its primary purpose is to protect and strengthen residents’ rights, with particular attention to Valletta and its communities.
3. The party may:
   • seek representation on the Local Council;
   • act as a residents’ advocacy and pressure group; and
   • work with public bodies, civil society organisations and other compatible entities where this advances the common good.

Article 3 - Aims and principles

ResidentiBeltin acts in the interests of residents and in accordance with Malta’s Constitution and laws. It supports the protection of Valletta as a living World Heritage City and promotes:

• dignity, peace of mind and quality of life;
• a fair balance between residential life, commerce and tourism;
• social justice, human rights, equality and the rule of law;
• democratic participation, transparency and accountability;
• the protection of public health and safety;
• the prevention of excessive noise, overcrowding and sanitation problems;
• sustainable development and environmental protection for present and future generations;
• the protection of cultural, historical and artistic heritage; and
• the preservation of local identity and Valletta’s distinct residential character.

The party shall pursue these aims through lawful, peaceful and democratic means.

Article 4 - Duration

ResidentiBeltin is established for an indefinite period.

Article 5 - Membership

5.1 Forms of participation

• Official Members have the governance and voting rights established by this statute.
• Supporters may take part in public activities and submit proposals or concerns, but do not have governance or voting rights.

5.2 Eligibility

1. Any person aged 16 or over may apply to become an Official Member.
2. An applicant must accept this statute and support the party’s aims.
3. An application shall not be refused on a prohibited discriminatory ground.
4. To prevent conflicts of interest and protect the party’s independence, the Board may refuse an application from a representative, affiliate or official candidate of another political party where the affiliation is incompatible with ResidentiBeltin’s identity or aims. Any refusal must be based on that conflict and not on a prohibited discriminatory ground.

5.3 Application and admission

1. An application may be made through an official digital message, email or telephone contact.
2. The Board decides whether to admit the applicant in accordance with this statute.
3. Official Members shall be entered in the party’s internal membership register.

5.4 Participation and contact

Members and supporters may submit proposals or concerns to an Official Member or by email at residentibeltin@gmail.com.

5.5 Membership fees and funding

1. The party does not charge a membership fee.
2. In accordance with its adopted policy, the party does not accept donations, paid memberships, sponsorships or other financial contributions.

Article 5A - Official candidates and collaboration

1. ResidentiBeltin may collaborate with independent networks, community groups, smaller political parties or other compatible entities where the collaboration serves the common good.
2. A collaboration must:
   • respect ResidentiBeltin’s independence and identity;
   • be compatible with the party’s aims and principles;
   • benefit residents or the wider community; and
   • be approved by a majority of the Board and recorded in writing.
3. Any arrangement involving a candidate must clearly record the candidate’s formal electoral status and comply with the applicable nomination and electoral rules.
4. Collaboration does not, by itself, constitute a merger or transfer of the party’s identity. Any candidate acting on behalf of ResidentiBeltin remains subject to this statute and the party’s disciplinary procedures.

Article 6 - Resignation and exclusion

6.1 Resignation

An Official Member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board. The resignation takes effect immediately upon receipt.

6.2 Exclusion

An Official Member may be excluded only following a fair procedure that includes:

• written notice of the alleged breach;
• a reasonable opportunity to respond;
• consideration by the competent party body;
• a reasoned decision communicated in writing; and
• a right of appeal under Article 9.

Article 7 - Rights and duties

7.1 Rights of Official Members

Official Members have the right to:

• take part in the General Assembly;
• vote after completing the probationary period set out in Article 11;
• stand for an internal office if eligible; and
• receive notice of meetings and decisions affecting their membership.

7.2 Duties of Official Members

Official Members shall:

• respect this statute and any valid Internal Regulations;
• support the party’s aims and independence;
• act respectfully and in good faith; and
• disclose any conflict of interest relevant to a party decision.

Voting rights are personal. A vote may be cast in person or through an approved secure electronic process. A proxy vote is permitted only where Internal Regulations expressly provide for it and the proxy is recorded in writing before the meeting.

Article 8 - Disciplinary measures

Depending on the seriousness of the breach, the competent party body may impose:

1. a written warning;
2. suspension for a defined period;
3. removal from an internal office; or
4. exclusion from membership.

Every disciplinary process shall respect the member’s right of defence, the principle of proportionality and the appeal procedure in Article 9.

Article 9 - Conflict resolution

1. The Conflict Resolution Body consists of three Official Members, one of whom may be the President.
2. A member who is directly involved in a dispute or disciplinary matter shall not take part in deciding it. The Board shall appoint an eligible substitute for that case.
3. All three members of the Body must be present for a decision. Decisions are taken by simple majority.
4. Meetings may be held in person, by telephone or by video conference.
5. The Body may decide:
   • internal disputes;
   • disciplinary appeals; and
   • appeals concerning refusal or exclusion from membership.
6. Its decision shall be reasoned, recorded and communicated to the persons concerned.

Article 10 - Equality

ResidentiBeltin shall not deny membership or discriminate on the basis of gender, race, financial status, sexual orientation or gender identity. The party also opposes discrimination on the basis of religion, nationality, disability or age, subject only to the minimum membership age in Article 5.

Article 11 - General Assembly

11.1 Calling the General Assembly

1. The Board shall call a General Assembly at least once each year.
2. All Official Members shall receive notice stating the date, time, place or electronic access details, and proposed agenda.
3. Notice may be sent by letter, email or another official digital channel and shall be authorised by a Board member.
4. Ordinary motions should be submitted at least 21 days before the meeting. The Board may accept an urgent motion where the reasons for urgency are recorded.

11.2 Chair and participation

1. The President chairs the meeting. If unavailable or conflicted, the Vice President or an Official Member elected for that meeting shall chair it.
2. An Official Member has one vote after completing three months of membership.
3. Supporters and invited members of the public may address the meeting or submit proposals with the chair’s permission, but may not vote.
4. Voting may take place in person or through an approved secure electronic process. A secret ballot shall be used for contested elections and may be used for another matter if the Assembly so decides.

11.3 Quorum and decisions

1. A quorum consists of more than half of the Official Members entitled to vote.
2. Unless this statute requires a qualified majority, a motion passes by a simple majority of valid votes cast.
3. A qualified majority means at least two-thirds of valid votes cast.
4. Abstentions and invalid votes are not counted as votes cast.

11.4 Powers

The General Assembly may, by simple majority:

• elect or remove officers;
• approve the annual accounts and any budget;
• approve party and electoral programmes; and
• adopt Internal Regulations.

A qualified majority is required to:

• amend this statute;
• approve a merger or formal political alliance; or
• dissolve the party.

11.5 Record of proceedings

Minutes shall record attendance, motions, decisions, voting results and elections. The chair and another Official Member shall approve the minutes. An audio or digital recording may supplement, but shall not replace, the written minutes.

Article 12 - The Board

12.1 Composition and election

1. The Board consists of at least three Official Members and must include a President, Vice President and Treasurer.
2. The General Assembly elects the President and Treasurer, together with the other Board officers, by secret ballot and simple majority.
3. If no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, a further ballot shall be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.
4. The officers’ term and nomination procedure may be regulated by Internal Regulations. An officer remains in office until a successor is elected, unless the officer resigns or is removed earlier.

12.2 Board decisions

1. The Board manages the party between General Assemblies and represents it in legal and administrative matters.
2. More than half of serving Board members constitute a quorum.
3. Decisions are taken by simple majority and recorded in minutes. In the event of an equal vote, the motion does not pass.

12.3 President

The President:

• provides political and organisational leadership;
• represents the party externally in accordance with this statute and Board decisions;
• chairs meetings unless unable or conflicted; and
• may delegate a defined responsibility in writing.

12.4 Vice President

The Vice President:

• assists the President;
• carries out the President’s functions during a temporary absence; and
• may exercise responsibilities delegated by the Board or President.

12.5 Treasurer

The Treasurer:

• keeps the party’s financial and accounting records;
• prepares the annual accounts for audit;
• presents the audited accounts for approval at the annual General Assembly;
• ensures that required accounts and reports are submitted to the Electoral Commission within the applicable deadlines; and
• oversees compliance with the party’s financial policy and applicable law.

Article 13 - Financial year and accounts

1. ResidentiBeltin operates on a non-profit basis.
2. The financial year ends on 31 December.
3. The Treasurer shall prepare the annual accounts, arrange their audit and present them for approval at the annual General Assembly.
4. The audited accounts shall be delivered to the Electoral Commission within four months after the end of the financial year, in accordance with the Financing of Political Parties Act. For a financial year ending on 31 December, the ordinary deadline is 30 April.
5. The party shall maintain the required records and returns even where no income or donations have been received.

Article 14 - Vacancies

1. Where a Board position becomes vacant, the Board may appoint an eligible Official Member on an interim basis.
2. The General Assembly shall elect a replacement at its next meeting. The replacement serves the remainder of the existing term.
3. If the entire Board resigns, the outgoing officers shall act only as caretakers and shall arrange a General Assembly to elect a new Board within three months.

Article 15 - Internal Regulations

1. The General Assembly may adopt Internal Regulations governing meetings, elections, committees, electronic participation, proxy voting and other internal procedures.
2. The Board may propose Internal Regulations or amendments to them.
3. Internal Regulations must remain consistent with this statute and applicable law. If there is a conflict, this statute prevails.

Article 16 - Amendments

1. An amendment to this statute requires approval by a qualified majority of the General Assembly.
2. The Board may correct a clear typographical, formatting or cross-reference error where the correction does not alter the substance of the statute. The correction must be recorded and presented to the next General Assembly for ratification.
3. The updated statute and every amendment shall be sent to the Electoral Commission within one month of enactment, as required by the Financing of Political Parties Act.

Article 17 - Dissolution

1. ResidentiBeltin may be dissolved only by a qualified-majority resolution of the General Assembly called specifically for that purpose.
2. The resolution shall appoint the persons responsible for settling the party’s liabilities and completing all required filings.
3. After all liabilities have been settled, any remaining assets shall be transferred to a charitable or non-profit organisation with compatible community aims. No remaining asset may be distributed to a member or officer.
4. The last Treasurer shall remain responsible for preserving the accounting records for the period required by law, unless the Electoral Commission authorises another arrangement.

Article 18 - Current officers

The names of the party’s officers are public in accordance with the Financing of Political Parties Act.